In a prime location deep in the Okavango Delta, on the edge of Chief’s Island and Moremi Game Reserve is Oddballs Camp – one of our rustic essentials for a relaxed, family-friendly, eco-friendly safari experience in one of the world’s most sublime wilderness areas. Oddballs have always been a low-key, chilled out African escape with its own private landing strip endearingly signposted with wooden Departures and Arrivals signs – naturally, surrounded by elephants, giraffes, lions, or whichever inhabitants of the area are prowling or foraging about. Now, Oddballs has made some changes to create more comfort for guests, while staying true to its casual, tented roots. Here are the details!
Oddballs’ 15 dome tents have been upgraded to larger, square-shaped canvas tents with a lighter roof panel, which allows for a cooler feeling and airier interior. The platforms upon which each these two-sleeper tents sleep are newly built and the interiors have acquired handy new details and touches which make them more user-friendly, including hooks and pouches for easy storage of books, torches, jackets, sunscreen, and mozzie spray. A low shelf located behind the beds as a sort of headboard is a convenient place to store your reading book, glasses, or water bottle while retaining the ultra-simple appeal of the tent. Each tent also has refurbished en-suite bathrooms with traditional bucket showers and loo.
In order to accommodate families even more than before, a new extended family platform has been built closest to the common area, so that parents travelling with children can put their kids to bed and still be within earshot of them while back at the campfire in the evenings. The raised wooden platform has two tents, positioned side by side, sleeping a family of four together.
Another big change to Oddballs comes in response to requests to incorporate a larger “chill area” for guests who want to relax with a view during the day. To make room for this, the old Honeymoon chalet has been removed and a new and improved guest seating area has been built. A relaxing lounge with comfortable furniture, hammocks, and that iconic barefoot beachy feel embodied by the sandy floors completes the look.
Oddballs sister camps, Oddballs Enclave and Delta Camp, have also received minor changes, which include the luxurious addition of a full-time masseuse during high season, who is trained to provide fantastic massage treatments designed to nurture tired feet and muscles after those long guided walking safaris through the Delta on Chief’s Island. And what goes more perfectly with relaxation than some excellent food and wine! All three camps now have a selection of wines to complement the menu, which comes from small wine farms that contribute to conservation.
Finally, just to ensure that the experience at camp matches the experience out in the field, all staff at Oddballs Camp, Oddballs Enclave, and Delta Camp have received a refresher training course to refine their skills and knowledge and provide the best guiding and hosting service yet. We are exceptionally excited for our guests to experience the new Oddballs and enjoy the famously low-key safari vibe it is known for.
